U.S. patent application number 12/691545 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-21 for system for aggregating information and delivering user specific content.
This patent application is currently assigned to International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Timothy J. Finley, Michael W. Sorenson.
Application Number | 20110179108 12/691545 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44278341 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110179108 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sorenson; Michael W. ; et
al. |
July 21, 2011 |
System for Aggregating Information and Delivering User Specific
Content
Abstract
Systems and methods for aggregating information and delivering
user specific content having at least one system server computer
having a plurality of data feeds operatively coupled thereto
through which the system receives new content. The system has least
one content storage device and global cache member coupled to the
plurality of client computers through the server. The method
includes storing content received from an external source on the
content storage device and defining and storing at least one user
account content delivery preference on a server computer. The
method also includes receiving new content from the external
source, storing the new content data to a system cache memory and
sorting the content and new content according to at least one user
account preference stored on the server computer. The method also
includes storing new content data specified in the user account
delivery preferences in a user index file associated with the user
account on the server computer and presenting/delivering content
specified in the user index and new content consistent with the
user account preferences contained in the cache memory, to the user
when the user request content or logs on to the network.
Inventors: |
Sorenson; Michael W.;
(Cambridge, MA) ; Finley; Timothy J.; (Leesburg,
VA) |
Assignee: |
International Business Machines
Corporation
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
44278341 |
Appl. No.: |
12/691545 |
Filed: |
January 21, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/203 ;
711/118; 711/E12.017 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/9535
20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/203 ;
711/118; 711/E12.017 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/16 20060101
G06F015/16; G06F 12/08 20060101 G06F012/08 |
Claims
1. A system for aggregating information and delivering user
specific content comprising: at least one system server computer
having a plurality of data feeds operatively coupled thereto
through which said system receives new content; at least one
content storage device coupled to a plurality of client computers
through said server computer; at least one system cache type
storage device coupled to said plurality of client computers
through said server computer; a plurality of subscribers, each of
said subscriber having a unique user account through which said
subscriber uses one of said plurality of client computers to access
particular content stored in said content storage device, said user
account specifying said subscriber's preference data; a user index
associated with each said unique user account, said user index
containing content data specifying particular content according to
said subscribers' preferences; wherein said system server processes
said new content received through said data feed by searching,
classifying and aggregating said new content received by the system
server contained in said system cache and in said at least one
content storage device, based on each subscriber's preference data,
and delivers user specific content to each subscriber through a
client computer coupled to said network when said subscriber logs
on to the network.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said subscriber preference data
comprises data that specifies the particular type of content the
subscriber wants to receive.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein said system server delivers to
said subscriber new content specified in said user index and new
content contained in said global cache memory when said user
request new content.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said at least one system server
stores at least one user index.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said at least one user index
comprises content data for new content received by said system
server while said user account is inactive.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein said global system cache comprises
content data for new content received by said system server not
written to said user index.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein said global system cache comprises
new content received by said system server.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein said system server delivers to
said subscriber new content specified in said user index and new
content contained in said global cache memory when said user logs
onto the system.
9. A system for aggregating information and delivering user
specific content comprising: at least one system server computer
having a plurality of data feeds operatively coupled thereto; at
least one content storage device coupled to said server computer,
at least one system cache type storage device coupled to said at
least one server computer; at least one user, said user having a
user account, said user account providing said user access to said
content provided by said server, said user account containing user
preference data; a user index associated with each said user
account, said user index containing content data specifying content
consistent with said user preference data; wherein upon receiving
new content from said data feed, prior to receiving a request from
said user for access to content, said at least one system server
stores said content in said at least one content storage device
coupled to said server, loads new content data into said system's
global data cache, classifies said new content loaded into said
global data cache based on said user preference data, loads each
user index with new data pointers based on said user preferences
contained in user account and deletes content from said global data
cache as said content data is written onto said user indices.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein said system server delivers to
said subscriber new content specified in said user index and new
content contained in said global cache memory when said user
request new content.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein said content data comprises data
pointers specifying the location of content in said at least one
content storage device.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein said global cache memory
contains new content received by the system server.
13. A method for aggregating selected information and delivering
user specific content from a server computer to a user via a client
machine coupled to a computer network comprising: storing content
received from an external source on a content storage device
coupled to said network server; associating a specific user account
to the user; defining at least one user account content delivery
preference; storing at least one user account content delivery
preference on a server computer; receiving a plurality of new
content from said external source; storing said new content data to
a system cache memory; sorting said content and new content
according to at least one user account preference stored on said
server computer; storing new content data specified in said user
account delivery preferences in a user index file associated with
said user account on said server computer; removing said new
content, determined to be consistent with said at least one user
account preference, from said system cache memory when said content
data associated with said new content, is loaded onto said user
index file; presenting said content specified in said user index
and new content consistent with said user account preferences
contained in said cache memory, to said user when said user logs on
to the network.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the method step of:
receiving a request for the presentation of content from a user of
the network.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the method step of
delivering to said subscriber new content specified in said user
index and new content contained in said global cache memory when
said user request new content.
16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the method step of:
populating said user index with content data consistent with said
users prior content requests.
17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the method step of:
designating new content stored in said system cache memory as
popular content, and presenting said popular content contained in
said system cache memory to said user when the user logs onto the
network.
18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the method step of:
presenting new content contained in said system cache memory and
content similar to content specified by said content data stored in
said user index to said user when the user logs onto the
network.
19. A method for aggregating selected information and delivering
user specific content from a server computer to a user via a client
machine coupled to a computer network comprising: storing content
received from at least one external source to a plurality of
content storage devices coupled to said network server; storing
content received from at least one external source to a system
cache memory; associating a specific user account to each of a
plurality of users; defining a user account interest model for each
of the plurality of users; populating a user index associated with
each user account with content data based on said account interest
model; searching said cache memory for content identified in each
said account interest model; retrieving content identified in each
said account interest model from said cache memory; retrieving
content identified by said account index data from said plurality
of storage devices; merging said content retrieved from said cache
memory with said content retrieved from said plurality of storage
devices for each user account; presenting to each user merged
content, associated with said user's particular account interest
model, when said user logs on to the network.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the method step of:
receiving a request for the presentation of content from a user of
the network.
21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the method step of:
populating said user index with content data consistent with said
users prior content requests.
22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the method step of:
designating content stored in said system cache memory as popular
content, and presenting said popular content contained in said
system cache memory to said user when the user logs onto the
network.
Description
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates in general to the field of computer
systems and data management and in particular to the field of
aggregating and delivering user specific content relevant to a
particular user in a network environment.
II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,389 issued to Weber discloses method,
apparatus and article of manufacture for filtering a notification
message from a database. A database is received by the system. The
database is logically partitioned into a first partition and a
second partition, the first partition having a first object
instance, the second partition having a second object instance. The
notification message is transmitted from the database to a message
recipient. The notification message is filtered based upon a
notification message type and a viewage table. In one embodiment, a
message channel can be created having a database identifier
attribute and a message type attribute. The notification message is
transmitted between the database and the message channel if the
notification message matches the message channel database
identifier attribute and the message type attribute. The
notification message is transmitted between the message channel and
the message recipient if the target partition ID of the
notification message matches a partition ID in the viewage
table.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,555 also issued to Weber discloses a
method, apparatus and article of manufacture for enabling a view of
data across a database. A database containing data to be viewed is
received by the system. The database is logically partitioned into
a partition based upon a characteristic of the data to be viewed,
the partition having a partition viewage table and a set of
objects. An entry point is defined in the database for the view of
data, the entry point having an entry point viewage table. The view
of data is enabled by generating a set of partitions by recursively
following the entry point viewage table and the partition viewage
table to referenced partitions.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 7,349,894 issued to Barth et al., discloses
method and apparatus are provided for a dynamic information
connection engine. User actions are detected on at least one client
system. In response, a determination is made whether the user is
searching for supported information. When the user is searching for
supported information, information is extracted electronically from
third party web sites, direct supplier connections, and
intermediate databases. Potential information suppliers are
automatically selected in response to the detected user search.
Queries are formulated from the user search and transferred to each
selected supplier over a network coupling. The queries include a
request for information. Responses are received from the suppliers,
and the responses are used to generate a result list for the user.
The result list includes information and query status information.
Further, an electronic link may be provided to a web site of each
supplier from which the information was derived.
[0005] Published Japanese Patent Abstract JP2008-060772-A discloses
a contents distribution system and distribution method in which
concerned parties can view and listen to secret contents, and
others except the concerned parties can not view and listen to, by
easily distinguishing the concerned parties in an information
network in which open contents and secret contents are mixed. The
contents distribution system and its distribution method are
composed so that viewing and listening restriction of charged
contents is released by a first release means which requires a
viewing and listening restriction release code, and viewing and
listening restriction of secret contents is released by a second
release means which requires an identification code consisting of
an ID and a password in the receiving servers.
III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Disclosed is a system for aggregating information and
delivering user specific content having at least one system server
computer having a plurality of data feeds operatively coupled
thereto through which the system receives new content and at least
one content storage device coupled to a plurality of client
computers through the server computer. The system further includes
at least one system cache type storage device coupled to the
plurality of client computers through the server computer and a
plurality of subscribers, each of the subscriber having a unique
user account through which the subscriber uses one of the plurality
of client computers to access particular content stored in the
content storage device, the user account specifying the
subscriber's preference data as well as a user index associated
with each the unique user account, the user index containing
content data specifying particular content according to the
subscribers' preferences.
[0007] The system server processes the new content received through
the data feed by searching, classifying and aggregating the new
content received by the system server contained in the system cache
and in the at least one content storage device, based on each
subscriber's preference data, and delivers user specific content to
each subscriber through a client computer coupled to the network
when the subscriber logs on to the network.
[0008] Also disclosed is a method for aggregating selected
information and delivering user specific content from a server
computer to a user via a client machine coupled to a computer
network including storing content received from at least one
external source to a plurality of content storage devices coupled
to the network server, storing content received from at least one
external source to a system cache memory and associating a specific
user account to each of a plurality of users. The method also
includes defining a user account interest model for each of the
plurality of users, populating a user index associated with each
user account with content data based on the account interest model,
searching the cache memory for content identified in each the
account interest model and retrieving content identified in each
the account interest model from the cache memory as well as content
identified by the account index data from the plurality of storage
devices and merging the content retrieved from the cache memory
with the content retrieved from the plurality of storage devices
for each user account, as well as presenting to each user merged
content, associated with the user's particular account interest
model, when the user logs on to the network.
[0009] Also disclosed is a method aggregating selected information
and delivering user specific content from a server computer to a
user via a client machine coupled to a computer network including
storing content received from at least one external source to a
plurality of content storage devices coupled to the network server,
storing content received from at least one external source to a
system cache memory and associating a specific user account to each
of a plurality of users. The method also includes defining a user
account interest model for each of the plurality of users,
populating a user index associated with each user account with
content data based on the account interest model, searching the
cache memory for content identified in each the account interest
model and retrieving content identified in each the account
interest model from the cache memory as well as content identified
by the account index data from the plurality of storage devices and
merging the content retrieved from the cache memory with the
content retrieved from the plurality of storage devices for each
user account, as well as presenting to each user merged content,
associated with the user's particular account interest model.
[0010] Also disclosed is a method for aggregating selected
information and delivering user specific content from a server
computer to a user via a client machine coupled to a computer
network including storing content received from an external source
on a content storage device coupled to the network server,
associating a specific user account to the user, defining at least
one user account content delivery preference and storing at least
one user account content delivery preference on a server computer.
The method further includes receiving a plurality of new content
from the external source and storing the new content data to a
system cache memory as well as sorting the content and new content
according to at least one user account preference stored on the
server computer and storing new content data specified in the user
account delivery preferences in a user index file associated with
the user account on the server computer.
[0011] The method also includes removing the new content, from the
system cache memory when the content data associated with the new
content, is loaded onto the user index file and presenting the
content specified in the user index and new content consistent with
the user account preferences contained in the cache memory, to the
user when the user logs on to the network.
IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] In order to describe the manner in which the invention can
be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly
described above will be rendered by reference to specific
embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments
of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be
limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and
explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of
the accompanying drawings.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of an exemplary system in which
the disclosed invention is implemented.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the exemplary flow of
new information into the system.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart showing the flow of new
information into the system.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the exemplary flow of
information pre-processed and retrieved for an inactive user.
[0017] FIG. 5 is an exemplarily flowchart showing the storage,
merging, and delivery of pre-processed information to a subscriber
at logon.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the exemplary flow of
information retrieved for an active user.
V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Various embodiments are discussed in detail below. While
specific implementations of the disclosed technology are discussed,
it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes
only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that
other components and configurations may be used without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0020] This disclosure relates to systems and methods for
aggregating information, and delivering to a plurality of
subscribers user specific content based on or relating to content
specified in each subscriber's account. The content aggregation and
delivery may anticipate or be in response to requests for the
deliver of content. The subscriber account specifies the content
needs of each user and may or may not be unique to each user. The
system pre processes newly received content, by storing the content
as well as aggregating and storing metadata relating to new content
in a plurality of subscriber indices containing content metadata
determined relevant to individual user accounts. Each subscriber
index is constructed, based on the user preferences as set fourth
in the subscriber data. This subscriber data is typically specified
prior to the server receiving a user's request for the delivery of
new content. When the subscriber log onto his or her account, the
metadata stored in his or her user index is retrieved and the new
content relating thereto stored in the memory unit and the cache
memory is presented to the user.
[0021] In other embodiments, when the user is active on the system,
new content received by the system is again pre-processed to
determine if the new content received is consistent with the
subscriber preference data. Content determined to be consistent
with the active user's subscriber preference data is retrieved,
sorted, and indexed, for quick and efficient delivery to the user
upon receipt of a request for content.
[0022] Pre processing content, prior to receiving a request for the
delivery of content, allows the system to efficiently use periods
of low system demand, or user account inactivity, to sort and
aggregate information relevant to the various subscribers thus
maximizing the system search efficiency during peak demand
periods.
[0023] Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference number
denote like elements, FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an exemplary system
100 in which the disclosed invention is implemented. The exemplary
system 100 features a system server computer 110, having a
plurality of data feeds 150-156, operatively coupled thereto
through which the system receives new content.
[0024] The content received can be any information, data, or
reports received by the server over the network, through a grid, or
from a reporting agency.
[0025] The system 100 features at least one content storage device
120 coupled to a plurality of client computers 140, 142, 144, 160
through the server computer 110. The system 100 further includes at
least one system cache type storage device 130 coupled to the
plurality of client computers 140, 142, 144, 160 through the server
computer 110 and a plurality of subscribers. As, conventional, each
subscriber has a unique user account through which he or she uses
one of the plurality of client computers to access particular
content stored in the content storage device 120. In other
embodiments a plurality of user accounts may be associated with a
single subscriber.
[0026] The user account specifies the particular subscriber's
content preference data from which a user index is created. The
server 110 creates a user index associated with each the unique
user account. The user index is loaded with content data specifying
the particular content contained in the content storage device 120,
determined by the server 110 to be consistent with the subscriber's
preferences as set forth by the subscriber content preference data
according to that particular subscribers' interest or content
requirements. This is performed for each user account. In at least
one embodiment the content data includes a plurality of data
pointers that specify the location of particular content stored in
one or more content storage devices 120. Content data stored in
each user index may include metadata, which may include dates,
scores, ranking, etcs, as well as pointers to the data in the
storage system. New content is received by the server 110 through
one or more data feeds 150, 152, 154 and 156 that are operatively
coupled to the server. The form and throughput of the data feeds
may vary.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 2 with continued reference to FIG. 1,
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the flow of new information into
the exemplary system 200. The example embodiment of FIG. 2 includes
a system server computer 110 having a plurality of data feeds 150,
152, 154, and 156 operatively coupled thereto, through which the
system 100 receives new content. The system 100 features a content
storage device 120 coupled to a plurality of client computers
140-144, and 160, through the server computer 110. The system
further includes a system cache type storage device 120 coupled to
the plurality of client computers 140, 142, 144, 160 through the
server computer 110 and a plurality of subscribers (not shown).
[0028] Preferably, each subscriber has a unique user account
through which the subscriber uses one of the plurality of client
computers 140, 142, 144, 160 to access particular content stored in
the content storage device. The user account specifies each
subscriber's content preferences via subscriber preference data, as
well as a user index associated with each the unique user account.
(Exemplarily user indices A, B, and C). Each user index 265, 275,
285 contains content data specifying particular content according
to the subscribers' content preferences. The system server 110
pre-processes new content received through the data feed 150, 152,
154, 156 by searching, classifying and aggregating the new content
received by the system server 110 contained in the system cache 130
and in the at least one content storage device 120, based on each
subscriber's preference data, and delivers user specific content to
each subscriber through a client computer coupled to the network
when an active subscriber request content, or when an inactive
subscriber logs on to the network.
[0029] In other embodiments the system may feature a plurality of
servers coupled in a grid or other network and/or a plurality of
cache type memory devices, and/or a plurality of content storage
devices operatively coupled to one or more server computers.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 3 with continued reference to FIG. 2,
FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary flowchart showing the pre
processing of new information received by the system 100. The
system server 110 receives a plurality of new content from an
external source, such as the data feed 310, and stores the new
content and content data to a system cache memory 320. Content data
stored in the system cache may include metadata, which may include
dates, scores, ranking, etcs, as well as pointers to the data in
the content storage device. The server stores the new content
received in the content storage device 325. The server then sorts
the new content in the global data cache memory 130 and, according
the to the preferences specified in each user account,
writes/stores particular new content data, to the user index files
associated with each user account 330.
[0031] The server 110 removes the new content and content data,
from the global cache memory 130 when the content data associated
with the new content, is loaded onto the user index files 340.
Content designated popular content, may be retained in the global
cache memory 350. Popular content retained in the global cache
memory 130 need not be written to the content storage device 120 or
the user indices. The popular content designation may be based on
frequency of use, content commonality, or other factors.
[0032] When each subscriber logs on to the system particular
content, content specified in the user index, and new content
contained in the global cache memory consistent with the user
preference data is presented to the subscriber.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary flow of information pre-processed
and retrieved by the system for an inactive user. FIG. 5 shows an
exemplarily flowchart for the storage, merging, and delivery of
pre-processed information to a subscriber at logon. Referring now
to FIG. 5, with continued reference to FIG. 1, and FIG. 4, a
subscriber, (user A) 260, logs on to the system 510. Upon logon,
the inactive user's index is rebuilt and the previously inactive
user receives new content the system has received and pre processed
during the user's inactive period.
[0034] Specifically, the server retrieves the content specified in
the user index 265 unique to the subscriber (User A) from the
content storage device 520. The server 110 also searches the global
system cache 130 for new content 530 consistent with the preference
data 262. Upon finding new content consistent with the data in the
user index 265, the server retrieves the new content consistent
with the content data in the user index from the global cache
memory 540. If there is content retained in the global cache memory
130 as popular content, the server retrieves the popular content as
well 550. The server 110 then merges the content retrieved from the
content storage device 120 designated by the content data contained
in user index 265, and the content retrieved from the global cache
memory 560. The server 110 presents the merged content to the
subscriber when the subscriber logs on 570.
[0035] FIG. 6 shows a block diagram illustrating the exemplary flow
of information retrieved for an active user. An active user is a
user who has already logged on to the system and has an updated
user index 265. Referring now to FIG. 6, with continued reference
to FIG. 5, during the ongoing processing the user index 265 does
not need to be rebuilt. The server 110 retrieves only data that is
related to the user's subscription 540 or interest 262 from the
global data cache 130. Data from the global data cache 130 and user
index 265 is merged 560 by the server 110. This content is
retrieved from the global data cache 130 and the content storage
device 120, merged and presented to the subscriber 570.
[0036] The disclosed invention can take the form of an entirely
hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an
embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In at
least one embodiment, the invention is implemented in software,
which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software,
microcode, etc.
[0037] Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer
program product accessible from a computer-usable or
computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in
connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For
the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer
readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store,
communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in
connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or
device.
[0038] The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical,
electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or
device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable
medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic
tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM),
a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical
disk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk-read
only memory, (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and
DVD.
[0039] A data processing system suitable for storing and/or
executing program code will include at least one processor coupled
directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The
memory elements can include a local memory employed during actual
execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories
which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in
order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from
bulk storage during execution.
[0040] Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to
keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the
system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers.
[0041] Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable
the data processing system to become coupled to other data
processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through
intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and
Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of
network adapters.
[0042] In another example embodiment the system for aggregating
information and delivering user specific content including at least
one system server computer having a plurality of data feeds
operatively coupled thereto, at least one content storage device
coupled to the server computer as well as at least one system cache
type storage device coupled to the at least one server computer.
The system also features at least one user, the user having a user
account, the user account providing the user access to the content
provided by the server, the user account containing user preference
data and a user index associated with each the user account, the
user index containing content data specifying content consistent
with the user preference data. Upon receiving new content from the
data feed, prior to receiving a request from the user for access to
content, the at least one system server stores the content in the
at least one content storage device coupled to the server, loads
new content data into the system's global data cache, classifies
the new content loaded into the global data cache based on the user
preference data, loads each user index with new data pointers based
on the user preferences contained in user account and deletes
content from the global data cache as the content data is written
onto the user indices.
[0043] The system server delivers to the subscriber new content
specified in the user index, and new content contained in the
global cache memory, when the user request new content. The content
data includes data pointers specifying the location of content in
the at least one content storage device or other content. In other
embodiments the content data may include metadata, data pointers
and/or the actual content.
[0044] In yet another embodiment the invention takes the form of a
method for aggregating selected information and delivering user
specific content from a server computer to a user via a client
machine coupled to a computer network including storing content
received from an external source on a content storage device
coupled to the network server, associating a specific user account
to the user, defining at least one user account content delivery
preference and storing at least one user account content delivery
preference on a server computer. The method further includes
receiving a plurality of new content from the external source and
storing the new content data to a system cache memory as well as
sorting the content and new content according to at least one user
account preference stored on the server computer and storing new
content data specified in the user account delivery preferences in
a user index file associated with the user account on the server
computer.
[0045] The method also includes removing the new content,
determined to be consistent with the at least one user account
preference, from the system cache memory when the content data
associated with the new content, is loaded onto the user index file
and presenting the content specified in the user index and new
content consistent with the user account preferences contained in
the cache memory, to the user when the user logs on to the
network.
[0046] In other embodiments the method also includes receiving a
request for the presentation of content from a user of the network.
The method may also include delivering to the subscriber new
content specified in the user index and new content contained in
the global cache memory when the user request new content. The
method may include populating the user index with content data
consistent with the users prior content requests and designating
new content stored in the system cache memory as popular content,
and presenting the popular content contained in the system cache
memory to the user when the user logs onto the network.
[0047] In yet another embodiment the method includes crawling or
monitoring specific data sources or data feeds from a plurality,
and sorting, storing and delivering new content from those specific
data sources to one or more user indices.
[0048] In other embodiments the method includes presenting new
content contained in the system cache memory and content similar to
content specified by the content data stored in the user index to
the user when the user logs onto the network.
[0049] In yet another embodiment the invention takes the form of a
method for aggregating selected information and delivering user
specific content from a server computer to a user via a client
machine coupled to a computer network including storing content
received from at least one external source to a plurality of
content storage devices coupled to the network server, storing
content received from at least one external source to a system
cache memory and associating a specific user account to each of a
plurality of users. The method also includes defining a user
account interest model for each of the plurality of users,
populating a user index associated with each user account with
content data based on the account interest model, searching the
cache memory for content identified in each the account interest
model and retrieving content identified in each the account
interest model from the cache memory as well as content identified
by the account index data from the plurality of storage devices and
merging the content retrieved from the cache memory with the
content retrieved from the plurality of storage devices for each
user account, as well as presenting to each user merged content,
associated with the user's particular account interest model, when
the user logs on to the network.
[0050] In yet another embodiment the method may also include
receiving a request for the presentation of content from a user of
the network.
[0051] In yet another embodiment the method also includes
populating the user index with content data consistent with the
user's prior content requests.
[0052] In yet another embodiment the method also includes
designating content stored in the system cache memory as popular
content, and presenting the popular content contained in the system
cache memory to the user when the user logs onto the network.
[0053] It will be understood that each block of the flowchart
illustrations and block diagrams and combinations of those blocks
can be implemented by computer program instructions and/or
means.
[0054] Although specific example embodiments have been illustrated
and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate
that other variations, aspects, or embodiments may be contemplated,
and/or practiced without departing from the scope or the spirit of
the appended claims.
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